The 15th Annual DARCA Convention to be held in Ignacio, CO Feb 15-17

The Ditch & Reservoir Company Alliance (DARCA) is hosting its 15th Annual Convention on February 15-17, 2017. The convention will take place at the Sky Ute Casino Resort on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in Ignacio, Colorado, located twenty-four miles southeast of the City of Durango.

Twenty speakers are scheduled for DARCA’s 15th Annual Convention, Learning from the Southwest Water Community. A variety of speakers will discuss their views on timely subjects, emphasizing local water users in the southwest. Speakers have been invited to not only inform, but to solicit input from ditch companies and agricultural water users.

DARCA will be hosting a pre-convention workshop on Wednesday, February 15. The workshop, Farming & Water Resources in the Southwest, includes a day long bus tour with two stops for presentations and lunch, then concluding at the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

On Friday, February 17th, the final day of the conference, participants may choose among three concurrent workshops:

The Successful Adoption of Alternative Transfer Methods (ATMs )- The workshop will introduce the future of ATMs in relation to ditch companies and the DARCA ATM handbook and continue with a review of DARCA’s ATM survey.

How Ditch Companies Can Best Deal with New Neighbors on the Ditch – This interactive session involving members of the DARCA community will explore and provide solutions for how best to deal with new neighbors on your ditch system. Followed by a lecture on effective communication and proven strategies for “avoiding the courtroom.”

Ditch Companies & Drones –This workshop will be an introduction to drone use by ditch companies for land surveying, GIS and measuring the capacity of reservoirs; the workshop will include a review of several case studies where DARCA members have used drones.

The Ditch & Reservoir Company Alliance, a nonprofit organization, established in 2001, is dedicated to serving the needs of mutual ditch and reservoir companies, irrigation districts and lateral companies. DARCA’s efforts include advocacy, education, and networking.

For information regarding convention registration as well as sponsorship or exhibitor registration opportunities please visit www.darca.org or contact John McKenzie at (970) 412-1960 or john.mckenzie@darca.org.